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Momentum Solar – Prospecting at the Speed of Light

March 4, 2019

By Nearmap.

Nearmap's high-resolution PhotoMaps™ cut proposal lead time from two weeks to two days and qualifies nearly double the homes in the same amount of time.

Momentum Solar is a rapidly expanding solar installation company. Originally focused on the New Jersey and New York area, Momentum is now expanding its service nationwide. With this expanded outreach, Momentum needed a better system to assess, plan and execute solar panel installations. Momentum turned to Nearmap to provide high-resolution, frequently updated, aerial images to accelerate initial assessments and have a more complete view of properties requesting solar panels, all from the comfort of their office.

Challenge

Previously, Momentum Solar used satellite imagery from multiple sources to assess, or qualify, houses and duplexes for solar panels. On top of that, they were using a completely different program to plan and virtually place solar panels.

In addition to being time intensive due to switching between multiple image sources, the team at Momentum Solar had no reliable way of viewing the same property in multiple seasons. This made it difficult to accurately qualify a house before sending a technician for an on-site assessment. For instance, if a satellite image of a home was taken in wintertime, there was no way of knowing whether tree leaves would block too much of a roof to make solar a viable option for the customer.

Solution

Implementing Nearmap has accelerated and improved Momentum Solar's operations in multiple ways. The accuracy and timeliness of images allow Momentum to have faster and more accurate assessments, allowing time for more appointments. Images of the property from the past give a complete view of the property for even more accurate assessments. The all-in-one solution further speeds up the process and allows technicians to show customers final results virtually before any panel is placed.

“With Nearmap, all the necessary information is in one easy-to-use program. We can decide if the property is suitable for solar within two to three minutes. The high-resolution captures reveal roof space, shading, and any obstructions so we can make accurate, timely assessments."

—James Kennedy, Program Manager, Sales Proposal Development at Momentum Solar

Impact

Faster Business Operations – Before Nearmap, Momentum required almost two weeks before technicians could get a quote to a customer. With Nearmap, they cut the average lead time down to two days. With the accuracy and timeliness of Nearmap's imagery, Momentum qualifies 1,000-3,000 homes per week, a significant jump from its previous volume.

More Accurate Qualification – Nearmap gives Momentum an advantage in the ability to see both current and historical images of a property. Bare trees pose no problem to solar panels in the winter, but when the trees are in full bloom during spring and summer they can create enough shade to disqualify a home. Using Nearmap, Momentum can instantly switch between current and previous captures for more precise qualification and design.

Improved Service– Nearmap's high-resolution PhotoMaps™ provide accurate measurements, allowing Momentum to better plan and visualize where solar panels can be placed on a roof. And, without the need to toggle between programs to visualize panel placement, Momentum can create a panel placement proposal in 5-7 minutes—a task that previously took 15-20 minutes. Nearmap makes it easy for Momentum to show its customers exactly what the final results will look like, and quickly make any necessary adjustments.